Golf club having a handle with vibration sensing means



May 9, w67 Puce-MRDl R. KuNlHxsA 3,3802

GOLF CLUB HAVING A HANDLE WITH VIBRATION SENSING MEANS Filed Jan. l5, 1965 ArraeA/E ys.

United States Patent Oli ice 3,318,602 Patented May 9, 1967 3,318,602 GOLF CLUB HAVING A HANDLE WITH VIBRATION SENSING MEANS- Richard R. Kunihisa, 168 Dowsett Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 Filed Jau. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 425,878 12 Claims. (Cl. 273-162) Ihis invention relates to the general field of game apparatus or equipment and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains to golf clubs.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf club which enables the user thereof to pre-calculate the length of his swing of the club and the necessary force to be exerted in order to obtain the optimum results during each stroke or shot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf club especially engineered to provide the user thereof with sensing means utilized in the predetermination of the length of the swing of the golf club and the impact force necessary to carry a golf ball its maximum distance.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved golf club with means for transmitting vibrations thereof occasioned by impact of the golf club head with a ball to the thumb or fingers of the user whereby the same may be sensed and utilized in the pre-calculation of the length of the swing of the golf club on the next succeeding shot and the power to be utilized in making the next shot or stroke.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide in a golf club of the putter type, vibratory means connected with the golf club head and extending through the handle for engagement by one or more of the fingers of the user t-o be sensed thereby, the vibrations being utilized by the user in pre-calculating the length of the swing of the golf club on the next shot or stroke. It will be understood, of course, that this invention may be used in conjunction with golf clubs of types other than putters.

This invention has, and further contemplates the provision of a golf club of the .type generally described supra, the golf club being inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, easily assembled, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specific-ation when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a putter type golf club incorporating the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional View, FIGURE 2 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 2 2 of FIGURE l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary crosssectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a second embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 5 5 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the handle portion of a golf club constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 7 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 7 7 of FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a detail cross-sectional View, FIGURE 8 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 8 8 of FIGURE 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged, detail crosssectional view of the handle portion of 'a golf club constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 10 illustrates an enlarged, fragment-ary, detail cross-sectional View showing a still further means for anchoring one end of the vibratory device to the shank;

FIGURE ll is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view illustrating still another means for anchoring one end of the vibratory device to the shank; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view of the handle portion of the golf club.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a golf club constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The club 10 includes a head 12 of conventional configuration, the head 12 being formed of steel or other desirable materials and being provided with an upwardlyprojecting integrally-formed shank 14 at one end thereof. The head 12 is formed with a normally upright substantially plano ball-striking side 16, and the upper end thereof may be provided with ball-centering indicia 18 defined by the vscribed lines 20, 22 or with other means, if so desired.

The upper end of the shank 14 (see FIGURE 3) is provided with a downwardly-opening socket 24 which receives, and has secured therein by conventional means, the lower end of an elongated, hollow, substantially cylindrical shaft 26 formed of steel or other desirable materials.

Reference numeral 28 (see FIGURE 2) denotes an elongated, downwardly-tapering, frusto-conical golf club handle having a central axially-extending passage 30 formed therein. The handle 28 may be constructed of any desirable substantially rigid material and, as is shown in FIGURE 2, the tapered lower end .thereof is provided with a counterbore 32 that is in open communication and is coaxial with the passage 30. The counterbore 32 provides an internal shoulder 34 and is adapted to receive, and have secured therein the upper end portion of the shaft 26 with the outer end seating on the shoulder 34 which thus serves as abutment means to limit the distance the shaft 26 may be telescoped within the handle 28. The upper end of the handle 28 has a cylindrical closure cap 36 ixedly secured thereto sealing the passage 30 at the upper end thereof, and the lower end abuts an outwardlyared shoulder 38 to seal the same.

Intermediate its ends, the handle 28 is provided with a cylindrical aperture 40 which extends transversely therethrough and is in open communication at its inner end with the passage 30. The outer end of the aperture 40 opens, as is shown in FIGURE 1, over or in the direction of the upper end of the golf club head 12. For reasons to be set forth below, the aperture 40 may be located in positions on the handle 28 other than that specifically stated, but it is essential for the operation of this invention that the aperture 40, or a similar opening, must be provided in the handle 28.

Fixedly embedded in the upper end of the shank 14 is one end of an elongated upright substantially rigid cylindrical or tubular rod 42 which may be formed of a metal, plastics, or other desirable material. The other end of the rod 42 extends substantially coaxially through the shaft 26 in spaced relation relative thereto and terminates in a radially or laterally-bent extension 44 that protrudes through the aperture 40 and which has its outer end preferably terminating in the plane of the outer surface of the handle 28.

In use, the club 10 is designed to alford the golfer a club to more effectively gauge the length of the putting stroke and the power behind the stroke to make an effective putting stroke leading to the sinking of the golf ball in the cup on the first stroke after reaching the green than is possibleV with previously designed putters. To this end, the user grasps the handle 28 in the conventional manner with the thumb of the lowermost hand overlying the -aperture 40 and engaging and depressing the extension 44 without causing contact of the rod 42 with either the shaft 26 or the handle 28. Upon stroking of the golf ball (not shown), vibrations of the impact of the plano surface 16 with the golf ball will be translated to the rod 42 and will be, in turn, transmitted to the extension 44 and thus to the thumb of the user. Observation of the ultimate position of the ball on the green after the stroke leads the golfer, through the vibratory response of the rod 42 and extension 44 as transmitted to the thumb, to the determination of the use of a longer or shorter stroke with more or less power behind the same on subsequent fast or slow greens.

Since the positioning of the hands on the golf club handle 28 varies from one golfer to another, the position of the aperture 40 and of the extension 44 will vary for the convenience of the user. However, the above-described construction of the golf club remains the sarne as described, regardless of the positioning of the aperture 40 .and the extension 44.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention wherein the same golf club head 12 is employed, -as well as the identical shank 14, all illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive. The same type of vibratory rod is employed in the second embodiment of this invention and is indicated at 42A, the rod having the usual extension 44A. The shaft, assigned reference numeral 26A, is provided, as before, with an external enlarged integrally-formed circumferential shoulder 50 adjacent the upper end thereof. The apex end of an inverted substantially hollow tubular frusto-conical handle 28A is telescoped over and is secured by conventional means to the upper end of the shaft 26A with the apex end thereof abutting against the shoulder 50. The handle 28A is provided with a passage 30A through which extends the upper end of the rod 42A and its extension 44A. In this embodiment, the aperture has been modified to an oblong configuration 40A normally closed by an arcuate closure plate 52. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the plate 52 is carried on the outer terminal end of the extension 44A and seats against the inner side of the handle 28A in the passage 30A, and extends across the aperture 40A to completely close the same.

The use of this embodiment of the invention is the same as that described above with the exception that the thumb of the golfer now engages the plate 52 to move the same out of its seat across the aperture 40A without effecting contact of the rod 42A with the shaft 26A or the handle 28A; Here, again, vibrations set up in the rod 42A are transmitted to the golfers thumb and are interpreted by him in calculating the next putting shot or stroke'to enable him to pre-calculate the length of the golf -club swing and the power to be used in making each succeeding shot.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of this invention which utilizes the same shaft and golf club head ras shown and described in previous figures, and it is proposed to employ the same handle construction. The shaft is herein identified by reference numeral 26B, its shoulder 50B, and the handle .and passage by numerals 28B, 30B, respectively. Extending through the upper end of the shaft 26B and into the passage 30B of the Y handle 28B is the upper end of a rod 42B similar in construction with respect to the rods shown in the two preceding embodiments of this invention. The upper end of the rod 42B terminates in a radially or laterally-bent extension 44B, and adjacentrto but spaced below the extension 44B is a strut 60, the strut 60 being parallel to the extension 44B.

4 As in seen in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the handle 28B is provided with a pair of discoidal members 62, 64 rigidly secured thereto and which traverse the passage 30B perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. The discoidal members 62, 64 span an elongated substantially rectangu-V lar aperture 40B that extends parallel to the axis of the handle 28B and which faces the extension 44B and the strut 60. The discoidal members 62, 64 are provided, respectively, with radially-extending substantially parallel slots 66, 68 which also parallel the aperture 40B.

Reference numeral 70 denotes an elongated substantially at upright rectangular rib notched atV its kopposed ends to form the shoulders 72, 74 and end extensions 76, 78. As shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and Y8, the rib 70 is disposed in the passage`30B and has a portion thereof extending through the aperture 40B todispose the shoulders 72, 74 inrclose juxtaposition relative to the ends of the aperture 40B, .and with the extensions 76, 78 normally engaging against the inner side of the handle 28B. The front edge of the rib 70 projects slightly beyond the outer side of the handle 28B and the rear edge thereof is fixedly connected to the extension 44B and to the strut 60.

The axially-extending rib 70 serves the same function afore-described in connection with the plate 52 and extension 44, but in this instance, the rib 70 is of such length as to not only permit engagement of the golfers thumbtherewith, but yalso to permit the fingers of the golfer encircling the handle 28B to make contact therewith. To attain full utilization of this invention it is only necessary to lightly depress the rib 70 so that the outer edge of the rib lies in or falls slightly behind the outer conic surface of the handle 28B whereby impact vibrations are directly transmitted to the thumb and fingers from the rod 42B and rib 70. Y Y

It will be understood that the rods 42, 42A and 42B are formed of a flexible material whereby release of pressure on the terminal end of the extension 44, the'plate 52, and the rib 70 will cause the rods to return to the inoperative positions of the same as is illustrated in the figures.

In the embodiments of this invention previously described, the handles 28, 28A and 28B have been considered as extensions of the shafts 26, 26Aand 26B to which they are connected, respectively. In FIGURE 9 a fourth embodiment of this invention is illustrated in which is shown a modified handle and club shaft construction which may 'be used with any one of the shanks shown in FIGURES 3, l0 or 11.

ln FIGURE 9, the upper end of the shaft 26C is shown as extending for the full length of the club and terminates at its upper end'in a cylindrical cap 80y having a centrallylocated socket 82 formed therein that is closed by the end vwall 84. VThe handle portion Yof the shaft 26C is wrapped with leather 86 or with some other suit-able material which will offer the userra `firm, non-slip type of grip. This is threaded to receive a tightening nut 92. The other end of Y the rod 42C may be `anchored in a shank 14 in the manner indicated in FIGURE 3, or may be, optionally, anchored as shown in FIGURE l0 or 1l.

In FIGURE .10, the lower end of the vibratory rod 42C is shown as terminating in a radial extension or hook 94 embedded in the upper end of the shank 14A of a golf club. The lower end of the shaft 26C is, of course, fixedly secured by conventional lmeans within a socket 24A formed in the shank 14A.

With reference to FIGURE l1, the lower end of the shaft 26C is fixedly secured within the socket 24B at the pper end of the shank 14B in which is embedded the lower end of the vibratory rod 42C. A pin 96 extends diametrically across the shank 14B adjacent the upper end thereof vand through the lower end of the rod 42C to provide a secure anchor.

In using the devices illustrated in FIGURES 9 to l2, inclusive, it will be understood that by tightening the nut 92 tension on the rod 42C will increase to increase the sensitivity of the rod 42C to vibrations set up on impact of the golf club head upon impact with -a ball.

The rod 42C is provided with a radial projection or extension 44C which extends through the openings 40C, 90 for engagement by the users thumb for the purposes above described.

Having described and illustrated in detail several embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the same are offered merely by way of example, and that the instant invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf club including a golf club head having a normally upright shank projecting therefrom and an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having an end thereof fixedly secured to said shank, a substantially hollow tubular handle having an end thereof iixedly secured to the other end of said shaft, and an elongated rod having an end thereof xedly secured to said shank and its opposed end extending through said handle in spaced relationship relative thereto, said rod having a lateral extension extending through a side of said handle for engagement by a linger of the golfer grasping said handle.

2. A golf club including a golf club head, a substantially hollow normally upright tubular shaft having a pair of opposed ends, said shaft having an end thereof xedly secured to said head, an elongated substantially tubular handle having an end thereof connected to the other end of said shaft, said handle being coaxial with said shaft and having an axially-extending passage formed therein, an elongated flexible rod having an end thereof i'lxedly secured to said head, the other end of said rod extending through said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto and projecting `beyond the other end thereof and into said passage formed in said handle, said handle having an aperture formed in a side thereof, -and said rod having a lateral extension disposed and terminating in said aperture.

3. A golf club comprising a golf club head having a pair of opposed ends, a shank having a pair of opposed ends, said shank having one of its ends ixedly secured to said head adjacent one of its said ends, an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having a pair of opposed ends, said shaft having one of its said ends xedly secured to the other end of said shank, an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical handle having .an end thereof iixedly secured to the other end of said shaft, said handle having an aperture extending transversely through the sidewall thereof, an elongated rod having one of its ends xedly secured in said shank, the other end of said rod extending through said shaft and said handle in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod at said other end thereof having a lateral extension disposed within said aperture, :and said extension being disposed in spaced relation relative to said aperture.

4. A golf club comprising a golf club head having a pair of opposed ends, a shank having a pair of opposed ends, said shank having one of its ends xedly secured to one of said ends of said head, an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having a pair of opposed ends, said shaft having one of its ends fixedly secured to the other end of said shank, an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical handle having an end thereof fixedly secured to the other end of said shaft, said handle having an aperture extending transversely through the sidewall thereof, ran elongated rod having a pair of opposed ends, said rod having one of its ends xedly secured to said shank with the other end thereof extending through said shaft and said handle in spaced relation relative thereto, and said other end of said rod terminating in a lateral extension disposed within said aperture in spaced relation relative thereto.

5. A golf club comprising a golf club head having a pair of opposed ends, a shank having a pair of opposed ends with one end of said shank being iixedly secured to said head, an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having a pair of opposed ends, said shaft having one of its ends frxedly secured to the other end of said shank, an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical handle having an axially-extending passageway formed therein and having an end thereof fxedly secured to the other end of said shank, said handle having an laperture extending transversely through the sidewall thereof, an elongated substantially rigid flexible rod having a pair of opposed ends, said r-od having one of its said ends xedly secured within said shank and the other end thereof projecting through said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto and projecting above the other end thereof into said handle in said passageway in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod at its said other end having a lateral projecting extending in and being contained in said aperture.

6. A golf club comprising a golf club head having a pair of opposed ends, a shank having a pair of opposed ends with one of said ends of said shank being iixedly secured to one of said ends of said head, said shank normally projecting upwardly from said head, an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft'having a pair of opposed ends, said shaft having one of its ends iixedly secured to the other end of said shank, an elongated substantially hollow cylindrical handle having an end thereof ixedly secured to the other end of said shaft, said handle having a passage extending axially therethrough coaxially-aligned with said shaft, said handle having an aperture extending transversely therethrough intermediate its said ends, an elongated rod having a pair of opposed ends, one of said ends of said rod being lixedly secured to said shank and the other end thereof extending lthrough said shaft in spaced relationship relative thereto and extending into said passage, said rod having a radial extension at the other end thereof, and a plate fixedly secured to the outer end of said extension of said rod for sealing engagement against said handle in said passage.

7. A golf club comprising a g-olf club head having a pair of opposed ends, a shank having a pair of opposed ends with one of said ends fxedly secured to an end of said golf club head and normally projecting upwardly therefrom, a shaft having a pair of opposed ends with one of said ends thereof xedly secured to the other end of said shank, said shaft being substantially hollow Vand tubular in construction, an elongated substantially hollow handle having a substantially cylindrical configuration with an axially-extending passage formed therein, said handle having one of its ends iixedly secured to the other end of said shaft, said handle having an axiallyextending aperture formed therein, an elongated rod having an end thereof ixedly secured to said other end of said shank, the other end of said rod extending through said shaft and in spaced relation relative to said shaft and said passage, said rod having -a lateral extension at the terminal end thereof, said extension being parallel to said aperture, a strut fixedly secured to said rod adjacent to fbut vertically spaced yfrom said extension, and a rib r'ixedly secured to said extension and said strut, said rib extending through said aperture.

8. A golf club including a golf club head having a normally upright shank projecting therefrom and an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having an end thereof fixedly secured to said shank and terminating at its other end in a substantially hollow tubular handle portion, said handle portion having an opening extending transversely therethrough, a cap disposed on the outer end of said handle portion, an elongated rod disposed within and extending axially of said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod having opposed ends connected with said cap and said shank, means connected with said rod to vary the tension thereon, and said rod having an extension thereof disposed intermediate its ends and extending through said opening to be sensed by the users thumb.

9. A golf club including a golf club head having a normally upright shank projecting therefrom and an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having an end thereof iixedly secured to said shank and terminating at its other end in a substantially hollow tubular handle portion, said handle portion having an opening extending transversely therethrough, a cap disposed on the outer end of said handle portion, an elongated rod disposed Within and extending axially of said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod having an extension at an end thereof projecting radially therefrom and embedded in said shank, the other end of said rod extending to and :being connected with said cap, means connected with said rod to vary the tension thereon, and said rod having an extension thereon intermediate its ends extending through said opening to be sensed by the vusers thumb.

10. A golf club including a golf club head having a normally upright shank projecting therefrom and an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having an end thereof xedly secured to said shank and terminating at its other end in a substantially hollow tubular handle portion, said handle portion being provided with a transversely-extending opening, a cap disposed on the outer end of said handle portion, an elongated rod disposed within and extending axially of said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod having opposed ends with one of said ends being embedded within said shank, a pin extending diametrically across said shank and through said embedded end of said rod, the other end of said rod being connected with said cap, means connected with said rod to vary the tension thereon, and said rod having a radial extension thereon intermediate its ends projecting through said opening to be sensed by the users finger.

11. A golf clu'b including a golf club head havinga normally upright shank projecting therefrom and an elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having an handle portion, said handle portion having an opening extending transversely therethrough, a cap disposed on the outer end of said handle Iportion, said cap having a centrally-located socket formed therein with a closure wall extending transversely across the inner end thereof, an elongated rod disposed within and extending axially of said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod having a radial extension at one en-d thereof embedded within said shank, the other end of said rod extending through said closure wall and into said socket, means on said other Yendvof said rod cooperating with said closure wall to tension said rod, and said rod having a radial extension projecting therefrom through said opening Yto be sensed by the users thumb.

12. A golf club including a golf club headV having a normally upright shank projecting therefrom andan elongated substantially hollow tubular shaft having an end thereof xedly secured to said shank and terminating at its other end in a substantially hollow tubular handle portion, said handle portion having a wrapping Ysurrounding the same and said handle portion and said wrapping being provided with juxtaposed, confronting and aligned openings extending transversely therethrough, a cap disposed on the outer end of said handle portion, an elongated rod disposed within and extending axially of said shaft in spaced relation relative thereto, said rod having opposed ends connected with said cap and said shank, respectively, meansrconnected with said rod t-o vary the tension thereon, and said rod having an extension projecting radially therefrom intermediate its ends and extending through said openings to Ibe sensed by the users thumb.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS l/ 1932 McEnvoy 273-162 ll/1963 English 273-183 

1. A GOLF CLUB INCLUDING A GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING A NORMALLY UPRIGHT SHANK PROJECTING THEREFROM AND AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW TUBULAR SHAFT HAVING AN END THEREOF FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID SHANK, A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW TUBULAR HANDLE HAVING AN END THEREOF FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID SHAFT, AND AN ELONGATED ROD HAVING AN END THEREOF FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID SHANK AND ITS OPPOSED END EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HANDLE IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE THERETO, SAID ROD HAVING A LATERAL EXTENSION EXTENDING THROUGH A SIDE OF SAID HANDLE FOR ENGAGEMENT BY A FINGER OF THE GOLFER GRASPING SAID HANDLE. 